<p>Hello everbody. Does anyone else have the problem of choosing between Middlebury and Bates? I have been accepted at both and 4 Midwest colleges(including Grinnell),but I really want to go out east. I visited both and I like the atmosphere and friendly students at Bates better. My parents think that Middlebury is the school for me. I love XC skiing and hiking and they say that Vermont will be better for that. I'm thinking of a double major in biology and French. Middlebury probably is best in French but Bates biology department has more classes offered than Middlebury. Bates is also a lot cheaper. Their EFC is $2000 less than Middlebury's and they have no loans compared to a $4000 loan at Middlebury. So, what do you think? Sam Carlson in Minnesota.</p>
<p>well I had the same problem I also had hamilton in my mind but my choice is of course middlebury ! :) I am planing also majorin in biology and I plan to improve my french so it seems like we got hell a lot of common stuff. I will just say this don't stuck into details don't just only consider the two schools by their biology departments for example. Middlebury is definitly overall a better school than bates. And like Middlebury is in middle of nowhere but it is a perfect middle of nowhere but like bates is too far away from big cities except Montreal... well but I suggest you to ask someone who can objectivly approach to you question cause here I am doing propaganda of Middlebury :) but these are the truths actually :)</p>
<p>Midd has hockey; Bates does not. 'nuff said</p>
<p>Midd will be a better over all college experience and that small difference in financial aid will be insignificant in the long run.</p>
<p>Well, Bates has a solid Bio department and is just all aroudn solid, but Middlebury is truly a prestine college with a better reputation (though not a whole lot better).</p>
<p>I would say Bates. Middlebury has a good reputation, but not at all in the sciences. Midd. is famous for international relations and foreign language, only. My sister goes to Bates and loves it... mostly because, although Bates is very prestigious, it is laid back and friendly. Midd. seems to me like a place where rich kids from prep schools, who didn't get in to the ivies, go and party like crazy-- way out in the middle of nowhere. But, I'm sure Bates has those kids too, and that Midd. has a lot of nice kids as well. I'd pick Bates, especially with the finance package.</p>
<p>I don't want to confuse you or contradict Autmaine, but I thought that Midd was very strong in sciences. The Bicentennial Hall, where the sciences are located, is new, beautiful and impressive, and the research being done while I was visiting looked good to me. But then again, the only connection to science that I have is that I read the New York Times science section on Tuesdays. I really don't understand what Middlebury was looking for this year. I know two applicants who would have been perfect, and they both were put on the WL. I can't help but think that some of the Midd appeal is due to marketing. I am sorry that I have been rambling and thrown in my opinions without helping you in any way!!</p>
<p>bates is a safety school for kids who go to middlebury</p>
<p>Stonecold23 said it all...</p>
<p>I'm surprised you didn't apply to Bowdoin!</p>
<p>yeah my logic is... bates was my safety school for colgate, and for my friends goin to colgate they got waitlisted at middlebury, hence bates is a safety for middlebury</p>
<p>Who cares if Bates is a safety school for Middlebury? That has nothing to do with picking between the two, does it? If the people who do attend Middlebury think in that mind set, Definitely go to Bates. Yeah, I agree with georgemma, Middlebury is only marketing-- with it's nice campus and seemingly perfect everything. I hope all the prestige hunters who didn't get in to to Princeton and Columbia, go there. That way they can pretend to be elite and rich way out of our way in Vermont, plenty entertained by their private golf course and ski mountain.</p>
<p>No, really, that's just exageration. I'm sure at any college there are great people. But Middlebury just seems too perfect, in the worst way possible.</p>
<p>It seems that Middlebury has really gone up in selectivity in recent years. When I was at Colgate, everyone I knew who had applied to Middlebury had gotten in and, in many cases, Midd vs. 'Gate was their decision. After school, I've met many from Midd who got into both and their decision was the opposite. The one commonalty among the 'Gate and Midd that I've seen is the possession of wait-list and rejection letters from Dartmouth and Williams.</p>